Auxiliary spark-gap



H.-P. ALTMAN.

AUXILIARY SPARK GAP. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. so. 1918.

1,346,522. Patented July 13, 1920.

UNITED STATES HARVEY P. ALTMAN, or FINDLAY, OHIO.

AUXILIARY SPARK-GAP.

Application filed March 30, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY P. ALTMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Auxiliary Spark-Gaps;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in auxiliary spark gaps and hasfor one of its objects the provision of a device of this character,which can be readily interposed between the feed wire and the spark plugof an engine so that it can be determined if the spark plug is firing.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby theauxiliary spark created by the auxiliary spark gap can be adjusted asdesired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of anauxiliary spark gap of the above stated character, which shall besimple, durable and efficient, and which may be manufactured and sold ata comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my in vention, reference to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in whicl11- Figure lis a side elevation of an auxiliary spark gap constructed in accordancewith my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, 7

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the' same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates fragmentaryportion of an engine having the usual spark plug 2, and to which myinvention is adapted to be applied. A base 1 has secured to one endthereof, a plate 2 which projects beyond the Specification ofLetterslatent.

Patented July 13,1920.

Serial No. 225,814.

end of the base and is bifurcated to form resilient gripping arms 3adapted to engage the central electrode 4: of the spark plug 2. Theother end of the plate 2 is disposed at right angles to form anauxiliary stationary electrode 5. The base 1 is constructed of anydesirable insulating material. A member 6 is provided with a horizontalinternally threaded opening and with a screw threaded shank 7 upon oneend which extends through an opening in one end of the base 1 and onwhich is threaded a clamping nut 8 for the purpose of securing anelectrical feed wire 10 thereto. An auxiliary adjustable electrode 11 isthreaded in the member and has secured to its outer end a finger grip l2and also has threaded thereon a lock nut 13.

In operation, the arms 3 are applied to the central electrode t of thespark plug and the electrical feed wire 10 is connected to the threadedshank 7. The lock nut 13 is then released from engagement with themember 6 and the movable auxiliary electrode 11 is moved toward and fromthe stationary electrode 5 until the correct spark is obtained betweenthe movable electrode 11 and the stationary electrode 5.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be noted that a device has been provided wherein theelectrical feed wire can be readily and conveniently attached to thecentral electrode of the spark plug and whereby means is provided todetermine if the electrical current is flowing through the feed wire tothe spark plug the spark will be visible at all times between themovable electrode 11 and the stationary electrode 5.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is A spark plug gap comprising an insulated base, aplate secured to one end of the base and having one end projectingbeyond said base and bifurcated to form a pair of spaced resilientgripping arms adapted to engage the electrode of a spark plug, saidplate having its other end disposed at right angles to form an auxiliarystationary electrode, a member having a threaded shank extending throughthe base and receiving a nut for securing an electrical feed Wirethereto, a

threaded auxiliary movable electrode adjustably carried by the member,and a nut m ea e,

threaded on the movable electrode for lock- 10 ing the same in adjustedpositions.

' V In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses;

HARVEY P. ALTMAN.

Witnesses ARLo. A. ALTMAN,

J. M. PLATT.

